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While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.

When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

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Reviews

Rated 2 out of
5 by
Bavi from
Not the book for meThis story does not waste time, it just throws you right into things. It has everything typical dystopian novels have but this has huge gaping holes in the plot. I judged this book based on the entire story rather than individual things (writing, plot, characters), and I must say that this book doesmt do anything well. #plumreviews

Date published: 2017-08-28

Rated 5 out of
5 by
AmyS from
TerrificAbsolutely awesome post-apocalyptic YA fantasy with rich characters, intense action, and an awesome romance. The story was great with lots of surprises, and Rachel and Logan are amazing characters with complex history and deep emotions. I couldn't get enough!

Date published: 2017-01-27

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Charity from
Great ReadA really good book. I really enjoy reading it. If you like a strong female lead, you'll defiantly love this book. While all the other girls of her age are looking at pretty dresses and looking forward to the claiming day, our main girl, Rachel, is swing a weapon and plotting a way to escape the city and go find her dad, Jared. The fact that her father is believed dead, she was assigned a new protector, who happens to be the boy who rejected her 2 years ago, Logan. Logan is this super smart guy who is also an orphan and an outcast of the society. Together, Logan and Rachel decided to go and try to track down and find Jared. This book is basically talking about them working together to find her dad with a little of romance in it. The best part about it that there is no swear words, at least I didn't catch any. So if you are looking for a book with no swear words in it, this is a book for you!

Date published: 2016-12-05

Rated 4 out of
5 by
Liv from
Book whoreThis book is a refreshing interesting sci-fi that I have been craving. The plot is strong and intense with intricate intelligent characters. I cannot wait to continue the series.

Date published: 2014-06-13

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Sam from
DefianceAwesome book can't wait for the next.

Date published: 2013-07-05

Rated 4 out of
5 by
Giselle_from_Book_Nerd_Ca from
A wonderful debutRachel Adams lives in a city called Balboden where the women are meant to be obedient and docile (Yikes! This screams at the feminist in me.), and the men can freely take what they want. Balboden and its citizens are all under the rule of the tyrant Commander Jason. Rachel lives with her father Jared the city's best tracker and courier, and her father's apprentice Logan. Once her father doesn't come back from one of his jobs, Rachel recruits Logan to help her find him, and together they unravel the secret of the Commander's power over the Chosen One. The history of how Balboden came to be was rather deficient in details and being the curious person that I am wanted more information. What are these monsters? Why does the commander have control over it? Why is he so power hungry and evil? So many questions, such little time. I love the world building that Redwine has set up. The time period I can only guess is in the future where the renaissance period meets technology? There are certain forms of techy goodness that Logan invents so that's my guess. The Chosen One seems rather menacing, and I doubted that there wasn't a way to kill it. Everything living must have a vulnerability. The pacing fell a little short for me. It would pick up, then slow right down, so I did have trouble reading it in one sitting. I just have to say how much I enjoy main characters who are intelligent and deadly at the same time. Both Rachel and Logan are strong and able to literally kick some ass. I can't help but admire Rachel's stubbornness and tenacity that her father is alive. Yet she also has such a vulnerable innocence when it comes to her love for Logan. She has the inability to act first, and think later which later leads her into a lot of trouble. But what kind of character would she be, if she didn't make any mistakes? Probably a boring one. Logan on the other hand, is one great male lead. His past has truly shaped his future; it has changed what kind of man he has come to be. The man's a genius and a humble one too. He loves Rachel, and will only honor Jared until his he is found safe. That showed an incredible amount of loyalty and integrity on his part. I also enjoyed how his lust consumed his logical reasoning and was rather amused at how Rachel affected him as a man. Sometimes reading from a male's point of view just makes me laugh. Poor guy. I love a good romance now and then, and usually there are books that make me nauseous. Yet Redwine's writing isn't as cheesy as most. There's chemistry within the characters, and the heat between the two is almost tangible. Some parts would make me roll my eyes, but it was still done very well. There's a push and pull of unbelievable magnetic attraction and I couldn't help but smile when reading those parts. Defiance lived up to the hype, and who wouldn't want to read about a fiery redhead who wants nothing better than to take down the tyrant that is making everyone's lives a living hell? C.J. Redwine definitely delivers, and I can't wait until the sequel.

Date published: 2012-10-09

Rated 4 out of
5 by
Stephanie_Leroux from
Good Introduction to a Wonderful New Dystopian WorldDEFIANCE is so much more than a story about defying the rules and regulations. It's about fighting for what you think is right and sticking by the ones you care about. It's also a tale of love and fighting through hardships, no matter what life throws at you. I think many teens (and adults) can related to the themes of the story, despite it being a dystopian novel. At first, I thought it was a true dystopian novel, but as I read on, I realized that it does have one little (or big) paranormal element to it. The Cursed One, a fire breathing monster, has wreck havoc over the whole world by incinerating everything in its path. This has created the need for secure cities surrounded by huge walls, in order to protect the inhabitants. Baalboden is such a city but Rachel Adams does not feel protected nor safe within its walls. Her father, a courier, has gone missing outside the walls and has been pronounced dead. Since Rachel doesn't believe him dead she decides to go searching for him in the dangerous lands outside the wall. Rachel is very different from the rest of the girls in Baalboden. First, her father has taught her the basics in self-defence. Second, she feels like she shouldn't be "claimed" by a man once she turns seventeen, like all the other girls in the city. Her independent streak and her common sense tells her that she should be able to care for herself and that she should be allowed to walk the streets of the city without a man guarding her every move. However, one man has caught her heart. She has been in love with Logan for years and now, since her father has not come back from his courier mission, he is pronounced her new guardian, or Protector. The relationship between Rachel and Logan is one of the main reason I enjoyed this novel so much . Despite their rocky past, they more or less make a pact to join forces in order to find Rachel's father. The tension and the love/hate relationship between the two characters is really what has you coming back for more. Before their mission even begins, they’re separated from each other as the communist commander of the city jails Logan for treason. I truly believe this separation of the two characters is a genius, since, as a reader, it kept me that much more interested in the story. And of course, it had me anticipate their reunion. Who doesn't love a good reunion?!? Despite really liking the story, I found it lacked a bit of information, which could have made it an even better book. What exactly is this Cursed One? Where did it come from? Why couldn’t the army find a way to defeat it? Why have the women of the city become puppets when they were once free and independent? Despite these questions, DEFIANCE is near the top of my list of favorite YA books of 2012. DEFIANCE is a griping tale that keeps you entertained until the very end. For all the dystopian fans out there, this is one book that you'll want to stack your shelves with since, besides being a great story, lets admit, it does have a pretty cover. C.J. Redwine will definitively enthrall you with her writing since her characters are so realistic and fresh.